words Al Woods
With spring in the air and summer right around the corner, many of us are busy planning vacations, trying to figure out what to do with our kids out of school, and doing it all while balancing a professional life also. While summer is a time of lots of fun and excitement, you can also wear yourself down during the long days and nights.
While most people associate fall and winter with colds and touches of flu, you can succumb to illness just as quickly during the summertime if you’re not proactive. Make sure you stay in the best shape possible, implementing the following ways to stay healthy during the summer.
Stay Hydrated
In the most extreme cases of spending too much time in the sun, people can give in to heat exhaustion which is a serious medical condition. While heat exhaustion is rare, you can feel downright lousy if you don’t stay hydrated during the summer months. We all know that we should be consuming around a gallon of water a day to look and feel our best, but you may need to up the ante in the summer. If you’re sweating a lot, spending time in direct sunlight, or have underlying conditions in sweltering weather, make sure you’re drinking more. Our bodies are sixty percent water, so replenish their vital supply and hydrate often.
Eat Seasonally
One of the best things about the summertime is most of your favorite fruits and vegetables are in peak season. Enjoying the seasonal fruits of the summer is a great way to stay healthy. If you’re not already a plant-based person, summer is great to try it out. Delicious treats like a fresh acai bowl, cucumber salads, berries off the vine, and more make it easy. Take your health a step further and grow your fruits and vegetables. While there is a slight learning curve to home gardening, it’s a skill that pays for itself in healthy foods and is a fun hobby. Who knows, maybe you’ll have a knack for homemade jellies or prize-winning tomatoes?
Get Out Of Dodge
Did you know that regular vacation people are at a significantly lower risk of strokes and cardiovascular events than their non-vacationing counterparts? We’re all aware that taking vacations and getting out of the daily grind is excellent for our mental and emotional well-being. Still, it directly affects your physical well-being too. Let that be your motivation to book the vacation you’ve been putting off. Life is short; enjoy it!
Protect Your Skin
You may be an old hat at taking care of your skin and understand the importance of not just wearing SPF when you’re at the beach or poolside, but year-round. If you’re not already doing so, make sure you’re protecting your skin with SPF when you head outdoors for an extended period of time. If you want to maximize your skincare protection, wearing an oversized hat or visor is one of the top recommendations by dermatologists to protect your delicate facial skin. Aside from avoiding scary medical concerns like skin cancer, protecting your skin prevents other sun damage like melasma or unwanted freckles.
Take Advantage Of The Weather
For many people, getting in regular physical exercise doesn’t come easy. If you are struggling to make exercise a part of your daily routine, take advantage of the beautiful and idyllic weather that the summer season lends itself to. Start by taking walks in the morning or evening when it’s not scorching hot yet to enjoy the beautiful sunny skies and clouds. Getting used to getting physical each day will come naturally to you. Even fun backyard games like croquet or running around with water guns are small forms of exercise. Swimming is one of the healthiest sports you can partake in, so get some laps in and have fun splashing around.
Watching your health should be a year-round priority, but summer is an ideal time to take charge of your health in fun ways you may not be able to when the weather is cold and icy during the winter. By implementing the above ways to stay healthy during the summer, you’ll be looking and feeling your best. Stay healthy!
